Games I'd Like to See in A Ultimate Mega Drive Collection Sequel

My pre-ordered Mega Drive Collection game arrived the other day for the Xbox 360 and I'm chuffed with it. The amount of feel good coming from this title is amazing. BUT... it's not EXACTLY the Ultimate as the name suggests. So... if having 40 titles is a standard number for an "ultimate" Collection. Then here's my 40 for the sequel:

1. Sonic CD (Mega CD) - it's pretty obvious that's a winner
2. Snatcher (Mega CD) - Most underrated title of the 90's
3. Speedball 2 (Mega Drive)
4. Sensible Soccer (Mega Drive)
5. Eternal Champions (Mega CD) - The CD version just had a little more to offer
6. Mortal Kombat (Mega CD) - Only because it had THE soundtrack sampled from the arcade... oh and the gory bits! LOL
7. Cool Spot (Mega Drive)
8. Wonderboy (SMS)
9. Wonderboy in Monsterland (ARCADE)
10. Wonderboy III (SMS) - One of my all time favs!
11. Wonderboy in Monsterworld (Mega Drive)
12. Micro Machines (Mega Drive)
13. Micro Machines 2 (Mega Drive) - Weirdo Four Player J-Cart which I have the original in my collection!
14. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (Mega Drive) - Surprisingly good one on one beat 'em up
15. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Hyperstone Heist (Mega Drive)
16. Virtua Racing (Mega Drive) - Most Expensive game in my catalogue!
17. Desert Strike - Return to the Gulf (Mega Drive)
18. Jungle Strike (Mega Drive)
19. Final Fight CD (Mega CD) - This was an awesome port from the arcade version
20. Earthworm Jim (Mega CD) - This version had many extra features which most of us missed
21. Keio Flying Squadron (Mega CD) - Obscure, zany shoot 'em up. Just think Samurai Pizza Cats with guns
22. Shining Force CD (Mega CD) - Ultra Rare RPG
23. Midnight Resistance (Mega Drive)
24. Revenge of Shinobi (Mega Drive) - Just sort out the copyright issues will ya!
25. Thunderforce 2 (Mega Drive)
26. Thunderforce 3 (Mega Drive)
27. Thunderforce 4 (Mega Drive)
28. Landstalker (Mega Drive)
29. Gunstar Heroes (Mega Drive)
30. Mickey Mouse in the Casles of Illusion (Mega Drive)
31. Shadow Dancer (Mega Drive)
32. Toejam and Earl (Mega Drive)
33. Toejam and Earl 2 (Mega Drive)
34. Outrun (ARCADE)
35. Choplifter (ARCADE)
36. Ghostbusters (Mega Drive)
37. Bio-Hazard Battle (Mega Drive) - Pretty cool shooter
38. Musha Aleste (Mega Drive) - Bloody cool shooter with best Mega Drive music
39. Twin Cobra (Mega Drive) - Great arcade port shooter
40. Sword of Vermillion

Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection - My Vinyl Has Arrived!

Today I recieved the first mail order game I have bought in ages. Well... it takes ages to be this good. To be this good takes Sega. Or at least it use to. But here is a game featuring a whole swag of titles that do rock. Personally I am here for the juicy RPG's that I know so many of you will just skip or play for the achievements. But I am even interested in Fatal Labyrinth. Warning... you can die from over eating in that game! LOL

As for the collection. Well in my previous entry I laboured to list them all but seeing them in a list and actually sitting down to play through them is entirely different. I must first say that I am really chuffed to see ALL the Phantasy Stars sitting there in that list and the Shining series didn't go un-noticed. But, I am a little sad to see Wonderboy V, Afterburner, Outrun, Toejam and Earl, Crackdown, Wrestleball and a few others didn't get a showing. Can I smell a sequel coming soon? While we are at it... where the heck is Sonic CD? That game didn't reach the audience that it deserved to.

Games in the list that may annoy some but I found fun were Flicky (I actually had the old old old SC-3000 Sega computer version) and Congo Bongo (known as Tip Top here for some odd reason and yes... another SC-3000 classic). Also Gain Ground was a favourite in my household with it's cool music and simply yet addictive nature.

Overall the game is well presented with a virtual Mega Drive type main screen, some quirky old school gaming generic music and tons of hidden extras to keep you plowing even through the less desirable titles (wise frum yor gwave!). The interviews will put you to sleep but seeing the creators of Sonic, Phantasy Star and all the old school Japanese classics give their (much glossed over) views on the past is interesting. Watch the one featuring the creator of Phantasy Star III and I challenge you not to throw something at the screen!

I am so loving this title and especially the vinyl album that came with my limited edition version. Now... where can I find a turn table to play it? LOL

NRL Season Just Moments Away!

Oddly enough I am really pumped for this up coming NRL season. As a Sharks fan I am letting the disappointments of 2008's late discharge from the season stay behind me and hoping that the Cronulla boys can finally get that monkey of their back. No premiership. It is embarrassing. But the Penrith Panthers proved in the late 80's you can turn things around. Although the league is a much different sport today then back then, the lessons are the same. With Trent Barrettat the helm I do believe he can add lots to the side in not only experience but a freaky revived form that is leaving people wondering just when will he cease to improve!

But this season will mark the fourth year of my tipping comp with Europcar. We are hoping to get at least 20 punters but I have found, for many various reasons, it is hard to get people motivated to join. It's really sad to see that some people just can't see how great a sport League is. Now I'm not going to draw direct comparisons to other codes and sports. But besides the speed, the historical background and the diversity of the teams involved in the sport my biggest drawcard to League is the courage and strength shown on field. No diving here thank you. None of this get taken off the field and come back on 2 minutes later after going down in a tackle. These guys, blood sweat and maybe tears, go to the sidelines after every game and thank their fans after most games. The media may beat them up on the sideline but it still doesn't ditract from the action on field.

I hope you wish to get involved and join in on the tipping comp. Just follow the link below and remember it's $25 to join for 2009. The comp ID is 162403 and the password is "green".

Europcar NRL Footy Tipping Comp 2009

Today I Went Nolstaga GAGA

I have been getting so hooked up with NHL 09 lately that I almost neglected all my other games in my collection. All I have been focusing on is #74 and his NHL career! But an announcement got my attention recently that stopped all that in its tracks... almost. Sega's new trip down memory lane with the SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Collection being released on dual platforms (PS3 & 360). Going down the list made me go a bit teary eyed. It reads like this:

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Alien Storm
Altered Beast
Beyond Oasis
Bonanza Bros.
Columns
Comix Zone
Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head
Dr. Robotnik's MBM
Dynamite Headdy
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco II: The Tides of Time
E-SWAT
Fatal Labyrinth
Flicky
Gain Ground
Golden Axe I
Golden Axe II
Golden Axe III
Kid Chameleon
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Ristar
Shining in the Darkness
Shining Force
Shining Force 2
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic and Knuckles
Sonic Spinball
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Streets of Rage
Streets of Rage 2
Streets of Rage 3
Super Thunder Blade
Vectorman
Vectorman 2

Now I know they can't all be gold. I cringe at the thought of playing one or two of these games ever again (WISE FRUM YOR GWWAVE!!!!) especially in hi-def. But I can't help but feel excited at the chance of having another crack at some of those RPG's! Plus having Vectorman (both of 'em no doubt) and also all the interviews, insights plus secret unlock-able games. Already Shinobi (ARCADE), Altered Beast (ARCADE), Congo Bongo (ARCADE) (it's an ancient title that I use to play on Sega's first computer/ console) and Fantasy Zone to name but a few. This is Sega's chance to really fly it's flag at today's iGen kids and show what made them big... and bust.

A couple of things come to mind with this compilation. Firstly... the omission of some titles. Revenge of Shinobi for starters. Man that game rocked with music that simply caned your butt whilst playing it thanks to the kicking bass thrown in. Herzog Zwei is another title that needed to be there. It was arguably the first console real time strategy game... but more importantly it rocked. I use to play this against my brother and we'd just like the fact it was all in real time, split screen and unforgiving. Building a mass army of boats to go bomb your opponents base in one big rush was awesome fun! Gunstar Heroes is another. Yes I know it's by Treasure and not Sega but surely... why split hairs? It had amazing visuals that were suppose to be not capable on the Sega console. It must have made some hardened Nintendo fanboys take note at the time.

Seeing this list has made me drag out my Gameboy Advance Micro and hit Phantasy Star again. That retro feeling is back and I'm enjoying it. Sometimes the newer titles, with all their realism and intricate plots... just don't get it. Gaming is meant to be fun. We don't want to know why we are suppose to plow through a platoon of soldiers and blow up their base... point is it'll be fun just doing it. I love new 7th generation console games and marvel at the technical accomplishments they set out to achieve and nail. But sometimes just watching your character's abilities raise and gaining a new, more powerful weapon or armour is more fun!